Star smirked as she remembered a crucial detail—her phone had a Smart Security System. Once activated, it detected the owner's unique touch and presence. If someone else tried to use it, the device would immediately lock and snap incriminating photos of the intruder.
As she retrieved her phone, it instantly unlocked in her hands, revealing a series of snapshots of Mandume's panicked face.
She burst into laughter.
"Thief! Ha-ha-ha! Just look at him—caught in the act!" she teased, showing him the screen.
Mandume scowled. "This isn't funny."
"Oh, but it is!" Star wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"What kind of phone is that?" he asked, still shaken.
"Just a simple Smart Lock," she said, shrugging.
"That thing scared the hell out of me."
She grinned. "You think that's scary? Hmm… I just remembered something. Your phone has my picture as the wallpaper, right? Let me return the favor."
Mandume's eyes widened. "No way, Star! Those pictures are awful!"
"At least I look cute," she countered.
"Oh, really? That pic on your phone is the real nightmare."
"Nope, this one is cute—to me," Mandume argued. "And I'm not deleting it."
"Well, I'm not deleting these either. And guess what? There are six of them."
"Come on, at least let me choose which ones stay."
"Ah… let me think…" Star said, pretending to consider.
"There's nothing to think about! Just delete at least four. You can't keep all of them."
She tilted her head. "Hmm… nah."
Mandume groaned. "You're impossible."
He grabbed a pillow and hurled it at her, but she dodged easily.
"Work on your aim, dude."
Mandume crossed his arms. "Star, I'm not playing."
"Who's playing? This is my phone. Even it knows who its owner is. So… know your place, baba." She smirked.
Mandume fumed, but before he could argue, Star tapped her screen.
"Oh, look at that… Uploading one to my WhatsApp status."
His jaw dropped. "Delete that! Now!"
Star gasped dramatically. "Oh, suddenly you care? Okay, I'll delete it—on one condition."
Mandume narrowed his eyes. "What condition?"
"I'll go to college."
He sighed. "Star, we've talked about this. You're not—"
"No problem." She cut him off. "Then I'll stay home and use my phone however I like." She lifted the phone, teasingly hovering over the 'Post' button.
"Fine, let's go!" Mandume blurted out.
Star grinned. "Knew you'd see things my way."
Her voice softened as she stepped closer. "I know you care about me, and I care about you, too. I promise I just want to use the library. I'll rest there, I swear. But you have to understand—this is a new place for me. I can't be alone. Please."
Mandume held her gaze, then gently placed a finger over her lips.
"I understand," he whispered, then turned and left the room.
A strange flutter danced in Star's stomach. She watched him walk away, her lips curving into an uncontrollable smile.
She threw herself onto her bed, grinning like a fool.
"Why are you smiling, Star?" she murmured to herself before shaking her head and heading to the living room.
The room was empty, but a lunchbox sat on the table. She peeked inside—cooked food. Without a second thought, she shoved it into her bag.
But then… something felt off.
She glanced around, suddenly certain that someone was watching her. But when she scanned the room, there was no one.
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, she headed outside. To her surprise, Mandume was still there, sitting in his car.
She knocked on the window. He rolled it down.
"What are you still doing here?"
"Get in," he said simply.
"Why?"
"You're going to college, aren't you?"
"Well… yeah."
"Then get in. I have fifteen minutes."
She hesitated before sliding into the passenger seat.
As they drove, she studied him. "So, you drive to college every day?"
Mandume nodded. "Yeah. My dad gave me this car before he left."
"Wow. Must be nice."
He smirked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Just… rich kids."
Mandume glanced at her. "What did you say?"
"Nothing. Just drive."
After a moment, she asked, "Hey… you know you left Bonita behind, right?"
"She's with Tiffanie. Tiffanie's parents will drop them off."
"Oh. Speaking of Tiffanie… did she go home last night?"
"No, she slept over. They were prepping for a test."
Star frowned. "That's weird. I didn't see her this morning."
"She probably rushed home early," Mandume said. "I didn't see her either."
Star tapped her fingers against the door. "If she came for a sleepover, she must have brought all her school stuff… unless that wasn't really why she stayed."
Mandume sighed. "Star, I don't know. I last saw her at dinner. That's all."
"So you didn't even check on her? See how she slept?"
Mandume tensed. "It… didn't cross my mind." He gripped the wheel. "Star, can we not talk about Tiffanie?"
She studied him for a moment before turning to the window.
"I know you don't love her, Mendu," she thought to herself. "You love me. But I can't love you back—not when I'm pregnant with someone else's child. And Tiffanie… she loves you. You deserve happiness. And I'll make sure you find it."
Mandume's grip on the wheel tightened.
"Star, if only you'd stop pushing me toward Tiffanie… then maybe my love for you could flow freely. I love you. I just don't have the courage to tell you."
And so, they drove on, lost in the weight of unspoken truths.